Mitakuye Foundation

There are so many ways to interpret this idea. While some of the work focused on color and incorporated color into the work – some submissions were about the absence of color and how that artistic choice made an impact.

Grand Prize Winner Aurora Marshall Age 12

Grand Prize Winner Carrie Twiss Age 18

1st Place (11-14) Elizabeth Iron Horn Age 14

1st Place (15-18) Ohitika Lewis Age 17

1st Place (15-18) Isabella Lakota Age 16

1st Place (10 & under) Amalia Swallow Age 10

Honorable Mention Alyssa Stove Age 12

Honorable Mention Tyra Standing Bear Age 16

Honorable Mention Giani Bettelyoun Age 12

Honorable Mention Angelina Zimiga Age 14

Honorable Mention Malia White Eyes 1 Age 10

Honorable Mention Malia White Eyes2 Age 10

Award Of Merit Brianna Vocu Age 16

Award Of Merit Emilee Swalley Age 14

Award Of Merit Shia Sierra Age 11

Award Of Merit Kaylee Provost Age 10

Award Of Merit Johnny Vallejo Age 10

Award Of Merit Jaye Kingfisher age 9

Every student who submits artwork for a contest is automatically enrolled in our Creators Club. Every time they submit work they earn points to save up for prizes. We are most interested in keeping young people engaged in the creative process – and the Creators Club was born for that very purpose. It goes us a way to reward effort as well as merit and keep kids engaged in the ongoing process of creativity.

We launched our LIFELINE posters – designed by winners of the poster contest.

Mitakuye LIFELINE Poster designed by Breianna High Wolf Age 10

Mitakuye LIFELIBNE Poster designed by Jordan Cortier Age 17

Showing the final print to Breiana High Wolf – one of the two winning artists that designed the posters

We did a Spring School Tour in schools across the reservation. We brought art opportunities, handed out prizes for our Art Contest Winners and Creators Club participants, and shared posters and information for the LIFELINE and other suicide prevention programs run by the BEARS.

We brought prom dresses and make up for kids going to prom!

We worked with the BEAR program to help get Pine Ridge Youth to the Unity Conference in Arizona:

Brian Sherman, one of the young people we mentor, was selected as a 2017 Running Strong For American Indian Youth DreanStarter! We helped Brian apply for the grant and developed a training program and curriculum for him to realize his goals of bringing dance to the Pine Ridge Reservation. We brought Brian to Los Angeles in June to train at studios all over Los Angeles and to receive his Zumba Certification so he can teach not only on the reservation but any where across the world.

Tor Campbell at Neighborhood Dance Studio

Swing Brazil at Electric Lodge in Venice

And we are not done yet! Our New Year’s Safe Events for all ages will run from 6pm 12/31 to 6 am 1/1/18.

New Years Eve Safe Event 2017

2018 is shaping up to be even more exciting! Thank you for all you do to help support these young people. Don’t forget to make your Year End Donations here: http://mitakuyefoundation.com/donate/

It is with deep sadness today that we learned about the sudden passing of our friend and Mitakuye collaborator Joe Her Many Horses.

Joe wasn’t just a dad taking his kids to classes. He wasn’t just a coach bringing students to a learning experience. Joe was a member of the Mitakuye Family! Joe would trek students on the long journey from Oelrichs to Kyle or Pine Ridge or wherever we were holding class to bring the experience of art and creativity to young people. And Joe didn’t just bring kids to our classes – he jumped in and participated! Whether it was helping out on a film set, or being part of the student music video, or getting involved in art classes – Joe embodied the spirit of learning and creativity we work to share with all of our young artists!

As a dad – Joe was a role model. So proud and encouraging of his kids. He cherished all of their hard work and accomplishments. Our hearts and prayers g out to his wife Jennifer and his kids Baylie, Amelia, Wyatt, and Jackie. Our Hoye Wayelo programs will not be the same with out Joe there – but we will work hard to continue to make him proud. Safe journey to you Joe!

We are proud to be sponsoring a special memorial event in honor of our dear friend Eugene Reddest, who passed away in March 2002. Eugene was a Lakota (Sioux) elder who lived on the Pine Ridge Reservation. We started visiting Eugene in 1993 and developed a deep bond with him and his family. Every year the Reddest family helps organize and run the Potato Creek Pow Wow (Wacipi). We wanted to honor Eugene by sponsoring something at the Pow Wow which is such an integral part of the Reddest family tradition. Since Eugene was a gifted Grass Dancer in his youth, we all thought a special competition in his name would be a beautiful way to honor him. And so the Eugene Reddest Memorial Grass Dance competition was born! It will be held Saturday night, September 9th at the 69th Annual Potato Creek Pow Wow. We hope to make this an annual memorial prize! Our deep love, respect, and appreciation to the Reddest family!

We are so proud of all the young artists who created so much good work with us this summer. Here are the two films created by students during the intensive:

Our fist team decided to do a short documentary. “Lakota Lady Warriors” was directed and edited by Juan De La Cruz and created by filmmakers Cole Black Crow, Jordyn Long, Daniel White Face and features Estina AmericanHorse and Britney No Leaf. These ladies are 2 of the young boxers in the Thunder Lake Boxing Club for Boys and Girls that we sponsor. Rick Gray Grass, one of our Advisory Council members, is the director of the club and does amazing work with these young people!

Our second team decided to work in the narrative format and were interested in creating a piece that had a film noir feel to it. “The Institution” is a short narrative film Directed by Baylie Her Many Horses, and was conceived and created by the filmmaking team: Amelia Her Many Horses, Koryn Hughson, Rory Marshall, Nora Marshall, Joey Hill, Emily Hill, and Katherine Plenty Bulls.